Monday Morning Motivational Message

I am angered, I am saddened. I am enraged, sickened and discouraged. I am disappointed and depressed, I am repulsed, confused and more…so…To Gary Carlton, my basketball camp roommate in 1973; to Reggie Barnette, who was the first person to call me “JT”; to all of my friends and teammates; to all of the men I have ever coached; to my 3 sons; and to anyone else who may read this,
 
I was a third grader when the Durham Public Schools integrated, and I knew that was progress. By the time I graduated from Durham Jordan High School in 1979, I just knew that by the time we got to 2020 we would have a much better country and world. When I graduated from UNCG in 1984, I just knew that by the time we got to 2020 we would have a much better country and world. We have made progress, but obviously, not nearly enough.
 
In our conversations about racism, we must understand that what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong. Those who are good are good and those who are bad are bad, regardless of their skin color. To eliminate senseless, abhorrent murders and to prevent looting and burning cities, we must all listen, we must all work together, we must all be honest, and we must all be a part of the solution. We must all do this together, WE are ALL the HUMAN RACE. We should take the time to get to know one another and to DO WHAT IS RIGHT. It’s time. No it’s well past time.
 
To everyone I addressed earlier, I will continue to remain optimistic. I will continue to give my best effort to positively affect everyone and everything within my reach. I will also look to find new ways to impact the world, in any way I can, large or small.
 
Now I leave you with this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Declaration of Independence. We are all CREATED EQUAL. We are all THE HUMAN RACE. We can do this. But to make it happen we need Black and White; Independent, Republican and Democrat; city, state, and national lawmakers and law enforcement; Jewish, Muslim, Christian and more to all be a part of it
 
Let’s start today!
 
With Love,
John Thompson
Basketball Coach
​North Carolina Wesleyan